Southern Wasteland Beast City
After the group emerged, the lingering scent was no longer the fragrance of grass and trees or the aroma of cooking, but a wild scent mixed with dry dust, the stench of animals, the rich stench of blood, and a sense of ancient desolation.
The energy in the air also became much more volatile, with Fire Attribute and Earth Attribute being particularly active, but lacking the gentle and peaceful energy of the Central Region.
The three steadied themselves and looked up.
Before them lay a colossal city, yet it appeared remarkably rugged and even somewhat chaotic. The city walls were not constructed of neatly arranged giant stones, but rather of massive, dark red rocks that seemed to have been soaked in countless drops of blood, towering hundreds of feet high and exuding an oppressive aura.
Those entering and leaving the city gates were rarely well-dressed merchants and travelers; instead, they were mostly mercenaries and adventurers carrying weapons and exuding a Sectarian Qi, as well as lone travelers riding various strange Magical Beasts with fierce eyes.
You can even see some beings that are half-human and half-beast, or even just powerful Magical Beasts in human form, swaggering around without anyone noticing.
The noise was no longer the hawking of street vendors, but the roars of beasts, the shouts of savages, the clash of weapons, and the undisguised clash of overwhelming power.
This is their final city on this journey, and also one of the human settlements closest to the Meteor Beast Mountain Range.
Southern Wasteland Beast City!
A truly barbaric city that follows the Law the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak.
"What a great place!" Zi Yan took a deep breath of the wild air. Far from feeling uncomfortable, a hint of excited bloodlust flashed in her eyes. The Primordial Void Dragon bloodline within her seemed to be quite suited to this environment.
Xiong Zhan also let out a low roar, twisting his thick neck, his bones cracking and popping. A ferocious aura belonging to Ancient Dragon Bear was faintly emanating from him, causing several adventurers who had wanted to approach and observe them to change their expressions and hurriedly retreat.
Lin Ming's gaze swept over the giant city, which was filled with a wild and dangerous aura. His eyes were deep, but he spoke calmly.
"Let's go, find a place to stay first, and find out the latest situation in the Meteor Beast Mountain Range."
Lin Ming's voice drew Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan's attention back. The three of them stopped lingering and strode towards the Southern Wasteland Beast City, which resembled a crouching behemoth and exuded a dangerous allure.
Upon entering the Southern Wasteland Beast City, the savage atmosphere grew even stronger.
The ground beneath my feet wasn't Blue Stone, but rather dark red earth that had been compacted and stained with countless dirt, giving it a sticky texture when I stepped on it.
The streets were wide but completely unplanned, with various simple yet sturdy stone houses, wooden sheds, and even dwellings converted directly from natural caves crammed together haphazardly. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, rust, the stench of Magical Beasts, and the pungent smell of various cheap liquors.
A diverse crowd moved about, almost all of them wounded, armed, and their eyes filled with vigilance, greed, and savagery.
As Lin Ming and his companions walked by, countless gazes, some open and some hidden, were cast upon them, filled with scrutiny, assessment, and undisguised covetousness. After all, a young man with a profound and unfathomable aura, a delicate and beautiful Purple-Haired Little Girl who exuded a dangerous aura, and Big Man radiated a fierce and menacing presence like an iron tower—such a combination was quite conspicuous in this Southern Wasteland Beast City.
In particular, Zi Yan's pure Primordial Void Dragon bloodline and Xiong Zhan's Primordial Aura of an Ancient Dragon Bear seem to have a natural attraction for certain beings with keen senses.
"Hmph, a bunch of ignorant fools." Zi Yan curled her lip, quite annoyed by the malicious gazes, a faint purple-gold light flickering at her fingertips.
Xiong Zhan went even further, glaring fiercely, a ferocious aura sweeping over the few most brazen individuals with their gazes like a storm. Those men were instantly struck as if by a heavy blow, their faces paling, staggering backward, their eyes filled with horror, no longer daring to look any longer.
Lin Ming ignored this; the Law of the jungle prevailed here. His Soul Power stirred slightly, spreading out silently like mercury, sensing the layout and flow of energy in the city.
A moment later, he pointed to the city center, where several relatively tall and well-organized buildings stood, their auras more mixed and powerful.
"Going over there should allow us to find a decent place to stay and sources of intelligence."
Ignoring the prying eyes around them, the three walked straight into the city.
The closer you get to the center, the more "formal" the shops on both sides of the street become. Although they are still rough around the edges, at least they have clear signs.
The items for sale are diverse, mostly high-level Magical Beasts materials, highly poisonous substances, rare ores, and some rugged and practical weapons and armor, all special products of the Southern Region.
Some shops even had signs outside openly advertising the purchase of "corpses of Dou Wang level or higher powerhouses" or "complete Dou Venerate skeletons," which was quite chilling.
Finally, they stopped in front of a huge stone fortress called "Beast Bone Fortress".
This stone fortress was entirely constructed from the skeleton of some kind of giant Magical Beasts mixed with dark red rocks. Its style was ferocious, and two enormous skulls of unknown Magical Beasts hung at the entrance, their eye sockets flickering with eerie green flames and radiating waves of oppressive power. This was the largest inn and trading place in the Southern Wasteland Beast City, and also one of the most well-informed places.
Stepping inside the castle, a wave of noise hits you.
The spacious hall resembled a giant tavern, furnished with rough wooden tables and stone benches, and filled with all sorts of adventurers. The air was thick with the mingled smells of strong liquor, roasted meat, and blood. Some fierce-looking waiters moved about among them, each possessing more or less inhuman features, some covered in scales, others with eyes like those of wild beasts.
Lin Ming walked directly to the counter, which was also made of bones. Behind the counter was a one-eyed old man whose aura had reached the Dou Zong level.
"Three superior rooms." Lin Ming flicked his finger, and a bag of Gold Coin landed on the counter.
A glint of shrewdness flashed in the one-eyed old man's eye, but he shook his head, his voice hoarse. "There's only one superior room left. Or, you can stay in the independent stone courtyard at the back, the price..."
He held up three fingers. "Three times."
This was clearly price gouging. Xiong Zhan's brow furrowed, and he was about to lash out.
Lin Ming waved his hand and tossed out two bags of Gold Coin: "Lead the way!"
A barely perceptible look of surprise crossed the one-eyed old man's face. He then put away the Gold Coin and summoned a half-werewolf attendant. "Take these three distinguished guests to the 'Fierce Ape Courtyard'."
The so-called "Fierce Ape Courtyard" is located behind the stone fortress. It is an independent Courtyard surrounded by a high stone wall. Inside, there are three simple but clean stone houses and a sizable training ground. The ground is pitted and uneven, with traces of dried blood and Dou Qi. Although simple, it is quiet and has an independent defensive formation to prevent prying eyes.
After settling in, Lin Ming said, "Xiong Zhan, go to the market to buy some essential supplies. Zi Yan, you go with Xiong Zhan. Be discreet and don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid either."
"Okay!" Zi Yan perked up immediately when she heard she could go out for a stroll.
Xiong Zhan responded in a deep voice, "Sect Master, rest assured."
After the two left, Lin Ming did not linger in the Courtyard. He needed more detailed and professional intelligence, especially regarding the current situation deep within the Meteor Beast Mountain Range, particularly the "Fallen Phoenix Abyss." Such intelligence was far from sufficient with mere rumors; he needed more covert channels.
Returning to the main hall of the Beast Bone Fortress, his gaze swept across the room, finally settling on an inconspicuous shadowy spot in a corner.
There sat a person shrouded in a black cloak, with a cup of untouched crimson wine in front of him. His aura was almost one with the shadows, and if Lin Ming hadn't possessed such powerful Soul Power, he would have been almost imperceptible.
Lin Ming walked straight over and sat down opposite the man.
The man in the black robe slightly raised his head, revealing a pair of emotionless, hawk-like eyes beneath his hood. "Buy, or sell?"
"Buy," Lin Ming said calmly, "The Meteor Beast Mountain Range, the Fallen Phoenix Abyss, and... the Beast Taming Sect."
Lin Ming used his Dou Qi to transmit the last three words, so only the man in black robes could hear them.
The man in black robes trembled almost imperceptibly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment, then said hoarsely, "The price is exorbitant."
Lin Ming tapped his fingers lightly on the bone table, and a Jade Bottle appeared on the table. The bottle was slightly open, and an extremely pure Medicinal Fragrance containing a rich Life Aura wafted out, silencing the surrounding noise and drawing the attention of many eyes.
"Tier 7, low-level pill, the Blood-Generating Pill. Is that enough?" Lin Ming said calmly. For adventurers who constantly live on the edge, this pill was tantamount to having an extra life.
The man in black robes took a deep breath, suppressing the burning desire in his eyes, and quickly put away the Jade Bottle, the Medicinal Fragrance disappearing with it. He said in a low voice, "Enough! What does the guest want to know?"
"Has there been any unusual activity in the Fallen Phoenix Abyss recently? Are there any other forces eyeing it? Regarding the Beast Taming Sect Ruins, besides the known rumors, are there any more specific clues? For example, the entrance, or the conditions for opening it, etc." Lin Ming asked several key questions in a row.
The man in black robes gathered his thoughts and said in a low voice, "The Spatial Fluctuations in the Fallen Phoenix Abyss have been unusually frequent in the past six months. Occasionally, seven-colored rays of light shine through the abyss, accompanied by ancient bird cries, suggesting that a remnant or inheritance of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix bloodline is about to emerge. However, this phenomenon only occurs once every hundred years, so it hasn't caused much of a stir."
He paused, then continued, "As for the Beast Taming Sect... the entrance to its ruins is elusive, often accompanied by Spatial Rift, making it extremely difficult to find. However, there is an ancient legend that to enter the core of the Beast Taming Sect, one needs the Beast King Sect Token, a token of the Beast King Token, as a guide. But this Beast King Token has long been lost..." He glanced at Lin Ming, his meaning clear: it was merely a legendary item.
"Anything else? About the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan?" Lin Ming asked casually.
The man in black robes stiffened again, his voice lowering even further. "Guest, be careful what you say! The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan is one of the three major clans in the Magical Beast World, possessing immense power and extremely averse to humans coveting their bloodline. There are unconfirmed reports that a powerful member of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan has already descended upon the Southern Region, their purpose unknown, but likely related to the unusual activity at the Fallen Phoenix Abyss. If you encounter anyone with seven-colored feathers and a noble yet violent aura, do not provoke them!"
Lin Ming nodded and then inquired about the distribution of powerful Magical Beasts within the Meteor Beast Mountain Range and the latest changes in known dangerous areas. The man in black robes answered each question in detail.
Having obtained the necessary information, Lin Ming did not linger and got up to leave.
That night, Lin Ming sat cross-legged in the Courtyard, his Soul Power sinking into his body, nurturing his Dou Qi and Heavenly Flames, adjusting himself to his peak condition.
The following day, as the rising sun stained the dusky sky with a blood-red hue, Lin Ming and his two companions quietly left the "Beast Bone Fortress" without alerting anyone. Their figures blended into the morning crowd leaving the city, speeding towards the continuous mountain range shrouded in a hazy mist and a sense of danger.